The community theatre concept is open to a broad interpretive spectrum: From embarrassingly amateurish shenanigans on the low end, to full-throated, top-professional quality performances.

Clearly the production of “Big River,” which kicks off the Limelight’s 21st season (through Oct. 7) is the latter.

I cannot envision any professional theatre production surpassing or even coming close to matching it.

What makes this “Big River” so great?

It’s a simple-enough 1884 tale by Mark Twain, familiar to most, describing Huckleberry Finn’s adventure-filled, river-raft ride from pre-Civil War Missouri down the Mississippi (the ol’ Muddy ), with runaway slave Jim — both seeking a new life.

First, cast a genuine star, Butler Robertson, as Huck. We’ve watched Butler develop these many years in a seemingly continuous, seamless list of hits.

Currently he’s a musical theatre major at FloArts in Palatka. He was blondish and slender as a kid; now he’s grown tall and his voice is a richly mature baritone. What makes him particularly endearing in his generous-heart, aw-shucks, barefoot Huck Finn persona is his obvious on-stage humility. You’ve gotta love this guy. He makes everything seem so effortless, so much fun.

Patric Robinson is Jim. Need I say more? Patric has been a St. Augustine stage legend for many years, starring in everything from great drama (“Raisin In The Sun”) to slapstick (last season’s opener “A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum”).

Patric and Butler’s voices ring true, when joined in song or solo.

The music and lyrics by Roger Miller are extraordinary: “Do Ya Wanna Go To Heaven?,” ”Waitin’ For The Light To Shine,” ”I, Huckleberry Me,” “River In The Rain,” ”When The Sun Goes Down In The South,” ”Worlds Apart,” and ”Free At Last.”And at least a half-dozen others.

“The Crossing” sung by Jamilia Wells, chained in a boatload of slaves, is particularly magnificent.

Depicting the individual settings was a daunting challenge, solved ingeniously by set designer Tom Fallon.

Three eight foot square wood pallets on hidden casters, behind a sectional curtain wall, are moved individually, or in pairs, forward and back, exposed and hidden, as props are added and removed. Brilliant.

An awesome mural depicting the Mississippi River at sunrise spans the entire width of the stage. It is the work of Jim Lynch, whose work can be seen in major venues throughout the world.

But I’ve only started to credit the cast, who collectively portray more than three dozen characters. So many, in fact, that many actors are in multiple roles: No one is more familiar as Mark Twain himself than Don Runk, complete in white suit and brandishing a long cigar, making token appearances at the beginning and end. Yet there he is (in different attire) as the doctor summoned to administer to a gunshot-wounded Tom Sawyer.

The most violent, soul-searing scene is near the beginning, when Huck’s drunken, abusive father, Pap — played by Mark Lambert in an unbelievably convincing performance — claims custody, forcing Huck to flee in terror. We never see Pap again, but Lambert appears in three other minor roles, brandishing a rifle.

I couldn’t take my eyes off two very young (but veteran) dancer-singers: 8-year-old Evan Gray and 10-year-old Kyler Unsworth. They inspire delight, and much anticipation for their bright futures.

Making her Limelight directorial debut with this incredibly ambitious production is Joann Kirby Nance. A graduate of Flagler College, she has been teaching drama at the St. Johns County Center for the Arts at Murray Middle School for the past 12 years.

Christina Cruz, our breakthrough director-star — “Lend Me A Tenor” her most recent triumph — does her customary excellent work as choreographer.

Everyone involved, I mean everyone — behind the scenes, on stage, in the audience, everywhere in our Ancient City/First Coast communities — have much to be proud of.

“Big River” is a joyous treat.

Show times are 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday. A special two-for-Tuesday show is Sept. 11. The musical runs through Oct. 7.